The Ministry of Elisha: No. 14

From: The Ministry of Elisha By: G.S. Byford

• 11 min. read • grade level: 8

“And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. And he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage, for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat: and it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out and said, O man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. And there came a man from Baal-shalisha and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husks thereof. And he said, Give unto the people that they may eat. And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people that they may eat, for thus saith Jehovah, They shall eat and shall leave thereof. So he set it before them and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of Jehovah (2 Kings 4:38-44³⁸And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. ³⁹And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. ⁴⁰So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. ⁴¹But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. ⁴²And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. ⁴³And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. ⁴⁴So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord. (2 Kings 4:38‑44)).

The spiritual awakening of Israel having been perfected typically God sets Himself in grace to meet His people's need. It is life that demands nourishment. The mighty power of God had been shown out in resurrection. His goodness and tender mercy are now manifested in ministering to the needs of His creatures. “The eyes of all look to thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season.” There is a return to the beginning of Israel's history at Gilgal, where it was said in the early days of their occupation of the land, “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you” (Joshua 5:9⁹And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. (Joshua 5:9)). Yet another reproach has been incurred. They have done wickedly, exceeding that of the original inhabitants of the land, and famine and desolation prevail around. Nevertheless, inside the house are the sons of the prophets sitting before Elisha in happy and patient expectancy. The miracles we have been considering have produced a profound impression upon them. All the more necessary was it then to deepen and strengthen this effect and to see to it that what is ministered should be good and wholesome. At the time to which this scripture points, there will be a great thirst for knowledge, and corresponding activity developed in supplying it. “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” It is not as vet the millennial kingdom fully established, for then there shall be no evil occurrent. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.” The moral or spiritual education of Israel will be in progress during the millennium. Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss, but at this time—the time of the end—the greatest care will be necessary in regard to what is ministered, and as to what is received. “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive many.” If it were possible the very elect would he deceived.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. And they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:14). The faithful remnant, looking for light and guidance would find both, as indeed does every earnest seeker after truth. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7, 8⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7‑8)).

But the increase of knowledge should be met with increased vigilance on their part, lest readiness to hear and thirst for knowledge should lay them open to the fatal error which would be one of the dangers of the last days—a danger of which the Lord frequently warned His disciples. Their responsibility was, according to the light and privileges they had received from Himself, to “take heed lest any man deceive you” (Mark 13:5⁵And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: (Mark 13:5)). Peter, more especially in his Second Epistle, seeks to put the saints on their guard. His watchful eye discovered the same danger. So also Jude, in a spirit of earnestness peculiarly his own. We need not refer to Paul's writings, which have more particularly in view the church. The earlier warnings, though having, without doubt, a present application and use, nevertheless point to a time still future, in which they will find a larger call than now. For this is pre-eminently the day of the Holy Spirit's presence and operation in the church. Every Christian is now sealed with the Spirit, and even the veriest babe in Christ, having an unction from the Holy One, should be able to brand as a lie the modern teaching that flatters and exalts man and belittles the Christ of God. The Spirit of God will indeed be working in the Jewish remnant in the last days, but not as an indwelling power as now; nor will all scripture in the same way as now be illuminated and used for the profit and blessing of God's earthly people. Is the reason not obvious? For what is now in course of building will then have been completed and removed from earth to heaven.

Many portions there are of scripture which are occupied with Christ risen and glorified in heaven—there in all the completeness of the work by which He glorified God in the propitiation of sins by the sacrifice of Himself. Other scriptures set forth the acceptance of the believer in Christ, according to the value of that work on the cross; whilst others again reveal the heavenly calling and hope of the church, that saints are now (to faith) raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. God the Spirit will indeed at that time satisfy those desires toward Christ which He will produce in the hearts of the faithful. He will open up those portions of the written word which shall be applicable to them. Nevertheless, there will be much of what we now rejoice in and turn to profitable use for present testimony that will be as a sealed book to Jews waiting for deliverance and looking for light. On the other hand, scriptures which we fail now to understand, through our unskilfulness or indolence (“for the slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting”), will then shine out with a peculiar brilliancy and sweetness that shall not fail to satisfy many a longing soul.

Scripture is complete in itself, yet the carnal mind can neither receive nor understand it, but man would presumptuously add thereto. Signs are not wanting to-day of this readiness. But when “He who now letteth” shall have been removed, how much more ostentatiously will this be the case, in spite of the warning of Revelation 22:18, 19¹⁸For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ¹⁹And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18‑19). But God has surely anticipated, and in His word provided, that which will be suitable for those who in that day “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” “And therefore will Jehovah wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted that he may have mercy upon you; Jehovah is a God of judgment, blessed are all they that wait for him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he shall answer thee. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers, and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:18-21¹⁸And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. ¹⁹For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. ²⁰And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: ²¹And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:18‑21)).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:3-12³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:3‑12)).

The association of this miracle with Gilgal is most significant (see Josh. 5). It was on Israel's first entrance into the land, the place where they submitted themselves to Jehovah's requirements and accepted the sign of God's covenant with their fathers, “wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day” (Josh. 5:9⁹And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. (Joshua 5:9)). But they were not slow in involving themselves in a vet deeper reproach, as portrayed by the prophet Ezekiel (chap. 20.) in great detail. First, in the land of Egypt (vers. 5-9); secondly, in the wilderness (vers 10-26); thirdly, in the land (vers. 27-32); the chapter closing with a description of the way in which God will cause them to “pass under the rod,” when He brings them into the land and into the bond of the covenant. The “dearth in the land” witnessed to Jehovah's faithfulness. It was His way of bringing them into the bond of the coven ant.